SmartTots Executive Board Introduces Two New Members

December 13, 2012 08:00 AM

Newswise — San Francisco – December 12, 2012 – SmartTots, a research initiative sponsored by the IARS, a non-political medical society that supports anesthesia research and education, announces the addition of two new executive board members, Ned Russell of Saatchi & Saatchi Health|Wellness and Dr. Mark C. Rogers.

The focus of the SmartTots executive board is to raise awareness and funds for the initiative, which supports anesthesia research to ensure pediatric safety.

"I am thrilled that we have been able to add two such exceptional individuals to the board," stated Dr. Michael Roizen, SmartTots Executive Board Chair. "Both Ned and Mark bring skills and resources that will enable us to build awareness of and raise funds for SmartTots."

In 2009, Ned Russell joined Saatchi & Saatchi Wellness (SSW) and now serves as Group Managing Director, overseeing all Saatchi Healthcare operations in New York. Ned joined SSW after working on both the client and agency sides of the marketing business. Previously he was VP of Brand Marketing for Las Vegas Sands Corporation for which he was a member of its Executive Committee and Operating Board. For the Sand's properties he oversaw marketing for the world's largest five-diamond resort, with over $3 billion in annual sales and 9,000 employees.

Prior to Las Vegas Sands, Russell worked at agencies Arnold and DDB with clients such as McDonald’s, Hershey and Johnson & Johnson, for whom he managed the global expansion of its skin care portfolio as well as its Acuvue Disposable Contact Lens business. Russell also started the Anderson DDB direct-to-consumer agency with offices in New York and Toronto, and he worked in Asia for three years on Coca-Cola, Unilever and J&J while at Lintas.

"I am so pleased to be working with Dr. Roizen and the rest of the executive board as well as IARS staff on the SmartTots initiative. Ensuring child safety while under anesthesia or sedation is an important issue that needs to be pursued," shared Mr. Russell.

Dr. Mark Rogers trained in four medical specialties (Pediatrics, Cardiology, Anesthesiology, Critical Care) and was named Full Professor at Johns Hopkins at age 37. He is the author of over 100 papers and author/Editor of 12 books in multiple languages. He was a Fulbright in Yugoslavia, was elected to the National Academy of Science's Institute of Medicine, and while serving as Associate Dean, he received an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

He then became C.E.O. of the Duke University Hospital and Health Network and was selected to participate in national efforts to help control hospital costs. From there he was recruited as the Senior Vice President of Perkin-Elmer (NYSE), which became Celera and sequenced the human genome.

Dr. Rogers next was President of a New York based biotech investment company and helped manage a billion dollar biotech hedge fund. In that role, and in his subsequent independent ventures, he has started numerous biotechnology companies, that have gone public on the NASDAQ, AMEX, TSX (Toronto), and LSE (London), and cumulative market cap of which exceeds a billion dollars. Because of his expertise in health economics, he was chosen by Lippincott publishers to edit the new journal "Medical Innovation and Business".

"As an anesthesiologist, I understand the importance of ensuring patient safety while under anesthesia or sedation," shared Dr. Rogers. "I look forward to helping SmartTots expand its network and increase funding for much-needed anesthesia research."

About SmartTots
SmartTots is a research initiative of the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS), and in partnership with the FDA, designed to investigate multiple aspects of existing anesthetics and their administration, including dosage and exposure. Findings from these studies will establish the development of new practice guidelines and anesthetic drugs. Data, outcomes and best practices generated by SmartTots will be placed in the public domain. For more information about SmartTots, visit www.SmartTots.org or call (415) 296-6900.

About the IARS
The IARS is a non-political medical society founded in 1922 to advance and support anesthesia research and education. The IARS contributes more than $1 million annually to fund anesthesia research and provides a forum for leaders in anesthesia research to share information and ideas. The Society publishes the Anesthesia & Analgesia journal in print and online. For more information on the IARS, visit www.iars.org or call (415) 296-6900.